Winter beauty woes--simple solutions: no season is tougher on your hair and skin. But fixing freak-outs is easier than you think with these new, fast-acting tricks.(COSMO BEAUTY BOOK)

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Winter takes a bite out of beauty. There go your gorgeous, sunny highlights and dewy skin ... and here come dry hair and a pasty complexion. No wonder experts say women get down about their appearance during this season. "There's a sense that you can't control how the weather is affecting your looks," says dermatologist Francesca Fusco, of New York City's Wexler Dermatology Group. "Symptoms like bumps and scaling often crop up all at once, which can be overwhelming. That kills your confidence." Rather than tough it out, we found fast ways to look hot no matter how badly the elements behave.

Cracked Peeling Lips

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Microscopic rifts often form on a pout. "Bacteria push their way in, causing more chapping," says dermatologist David Bank, of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic, and Laser Surgery in Mount Kisco, New York.

BEAUTY SOLUTION Spread on a balm enhanced with antioxidants, like cranberries, to boost softness ... and make sure it contains SPF. "Because your lips don't have much melanin, they're extremely susceptible to sun damage, even in winter," stresses Dr. Bank. Pop the balm in your bag so you won't lick your lips to moisten them later. "Saliva contains enzymes that break down your skin and create cracks," says Dr. Bank. But slick on just a thin coating. Otherwise, your instinct might be to lick away the excess.

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